The Boat Works – February 2015
We’ve been in Oz two months now and we have a couple of favorite places. Mooloolaba was one, The Boat Works was the other. (Aside from our walks in various hinterlands which were consistent in their stunning beauty.)
That’s right: the boatyard, where we hauled out, was one of our favorite places in Oz and we were so sad to leave!
The Boat Works is about ten miles up the Coomera River from Southport (Gold Coast aka Surfer’s Paradise). It is pretty easy to get to, even with our 7′ draft. We just left Southport at high tide and rode the incoming tide all the way up the river as high tide is 1-1/2 hours later up the river.
A highlight of the ride up the river were the roos along the banks. How strange to see them looking across the water as we’d motor by.
We’re doing things a little backwards from what we normally do. We usually haul out to get our bottom painted just before heading to the tropics. This year, while we were hanging out in Surfer’s Paradise, we decided to take a look at the boatyards in the area. We were so impressed by The Boat Works, we changed our schedule around. (OK, the other reason was that I don’t want to be dinner for some shark while cleaning my bottom in these deadly waters ;-). Now with new bottom paint, it shouldn’t need cleaning until we get somewhere safer – like anywhere else!)
In addition to the usual bottom job, we had two other major projects in mind; fix our 15 year old and persistent rudder shaft leak, and add a bimini with an additional solar panel. We found someone we liked for the required rudder seal machining at The Boat Works and after getting a few quotes, decided on Choice Stainless for the bimini (also a tenant at The Boat Works).
The yard is huge, clean, efficient, modern and so welcoming. We lived aboard during our time on the hard stand, which we hadn’t done in quite a few years, and we were delighted with the en suite restrooms and showers just for liveaboards as well as their most generous offer of free courtesy cars for our use and free washers and dryers. They keep the yard so clean, we had very little of the usual black grit on the boat from trips up and down the ladder.
There are about 35 vendors on-site and you can find just about anything or any service you need. If not, there are more marine businesses a short walk down the street and if you don’t find it there, just borrow their car and drive to town.
When we work at a yard, we’re used to getting a lot of “no” – no, you can’t do that, no, not that either. We got a lot of yeses here:
Yes, you can work on your own boat.
Yes, you can use your own paint and there’s no additional charge.
Yes, you can use any vendor you want.
Yes, you can come and go as you please.
Yes, we lock up at night and have caretakers.
Yes, you can get in and out nights and weekends – here’s your key.
Catamaran people: Yes, they can haul cats!
Store your boat while you’re away? Yes, they have dry storage.
Before coming to Australia, we’d heard that the prices for boat work were outrageous. Maybe in Sydney, we don’t know, but here, they were about what we’d expect to pay in the states, and maybe a little less. With the exchange rate while we were here (80 U.S. cents to the Oz dollar), we did pretty well.
The staff was another highlight; competent, efficient, and so friendly. Tony, the owner, really cares about running a first class yard. It seems that providing exceptional service is his primary goal.
And wow, did we eat well! There’s a restaurant onsite called The Galley and it’s sensational. We never had a meal that was any less than spectacular. And the desserts! And the macaroons! And Friday night Tapas!
Below are some pictures we took from around the yard. I think you’ll see what we’re talking about. (click on any picture to enlarge)…
Here’s The Boat Works website.
